Chapter 34
Kid glared across the Colosseum towards the stands where Doflamingo sat with a smug look lighting his face. Law was sitting at his side, looking quiet and calm, even leaning against the blonde who had an arm around him making Kid nearly grit his teeth.
He hadn't given up. He was gonna show everyone he could do this. Law was too busy freaking out to see the bigger picture, fretting that him not being 'well behaved' kept putting everyone in danger. Jeez it was stupid as fuck. Kid was gonna win, then take Law with him. That was all he had to do and he was kinda excited. He had been looking forward to kicking Vergo's ass for a long time.
He strode out on to the platform once it was time, grinning sharply at Vergo who was glaring at him, looking annoyed.
"So you decided to show up? Do you want to be beaten up so badly again mutt?"
Kid drew his sword and his gun, feeling his grin widen. "Nah, I'm here to kick your ass old man, then I'm taking Law with me."
"I really will have to teach you some respect." Vergo growled.
He couldn't help but snort at that. "You couldn't do it back in the mines. Why do you think I'll suddenly bend the knee to you now you prick? You and that pink bastard always walk over people like me, and this time you're gonna get bitten back."
The bell then rang, signalling the match to begin and they both charged.
"Why didn't that brat Shachi kill him?" Doflamingo glowered, making Law stiffen.
"You had Shachi try to assassinate him? You know that's more Penguin's thing right?" Law hissed. "You could have gotten Shachi killed."
He was surprised when Doflamingo untense then, nodding. "Ah, so you think Shachi was defeated trying to take him down?"
Law had a feeling Shachi didn't even try but he nodded anyway. "Shachi has never been the assassin type. I hope you haven't gotten him killed Doflamingo."
"Oh hush, if your assassin wants to keep you happy he probably only knocked Shachi out." Doflamingo chuckled, ruffling his hair gently, even as Vergo and Kid collided down below, exchanging blows.
The audience went silent suddenly though when Kid landed a good hit on Vergo, nearly sending him over the edge, much to Law's shock. Doflamingo was instantly tense again, his teeth gritted while Law tried to remain relaxed and to not get his hope up.
He heard Luffy cheer just before Vergo regained his balance, swiping at Kid and driving the redhead back who looked strangely focused.
What was he up to?
Monet smiled at the sight of Penguin, he was dirty and pale and exhausted looking. It had been years since he was like that, sitting in a cell for misbehaviour and being punished to teach him the way of things. She remembered all of them, all the ways she had broke him apart.
His screams and cries.
It was a shame she couldn't do the same to Lami. Lami needed to be taught, just like Penguin had been. The Young Master didn't want to upset Law too much though, hopefully now that Law had been so unruly his little sister would pay the price.
She could break her and finally make her into a proper slave.
"Will you still not give in Penguin? I want to help you. Help you be loyal again."
"I need to help Captain..." Penguin murmured, making her turn away in irritation.
Monet shook her head. "You're being a fool. You can protect Law better if you just surrendered Penguin. You know that."
"Monet." Penguin called out to her, much to her surprise. "I don't want things to turn out like this."
She sighed at that, turning around to face him. "Then why betray the Young Master?"
"I have to be loyal to Law. He's my Captain, my Lord, my family." Penguin pleaded, his eyes desperate. "You can understand that right? You're loyal to our King, and I'm loyal to his fiancé."
She reached out and stroked his cheek, seeing him relax against her hand like he used to. It was long ago when they were like this, when he was a slave and when she trained him to be obedient. Those had been rough days, he used to try and run all the time and she would punish him for each attempt. She had made him into who he was, and perhaps it was time to reign him back in a bit.
"Maybe I should come into that cell, give you some old lessons?" Monet murmured to him, licking her lips. "You were always meant to be loyal to the Young Master, not anyone else."
He sighed against her. "Perhaps... Monet please... Help me?"
"Would you submit again?"
Penguin frowned, he looked so tired. "I might need to..."
She licked her lips in anticipation, ready to see him cry again when a sharp, sudden pain stabbed through her back, she choked, coughing up blood over Penguin's face whose eyes were cold again and sharp.
"But I won't let him go through that ever again bitch." She heard a familiar voice hiss into her ear.
"Sh-Shachi-" She choked, looking down.
The same blade she gave him, the one he was meant to kill that assassin with.
"I hope you choke to death you harpy." Shachi sneered, twisting the blade and making her cry out painfully, gasping and gargling, blood spilling out her mouth as she tried to breath.
She stumbled away, Penguin's eyes were still cold as Shachi snatched the keys off her belt, unlocking the cell door just as she collapsed on to her side, trying to breath. She needed to breath. She needed air.
Shachi twirled the keys in his hand as he eyed Penguin. "I hope you actually weren't giving into that bitch and saw me coming. I might be a bit pissed if you didn't."
"Of course I saw you. It's me remember?" Penguin raised an eyebrow, leaning into the warmth Shachi provided with his free arm.
"Yeah, yeah, you're the most skilled in sneaky shit. I know. You'd make a better assassin than that asshole."
"If Eustass regains his reputation then he might be a match for me. It would be interesting to see at any rate." Penguin mused, he heard Monet's choked gargles and couldn't help but smile as he glanced over her.
She was jerking, trying to struggle for life but she didn't deserve it. Not after she took his. He held out his hand for the dagger, making Shachi cringe.
"Are you sure?" The brunette asked wearily.
"Yeah. Pass it to me." Penguin ordered. "Then go free Bepo."
"R-Right..." Shachi nodded, passing him the dagger reluctantly before heading straight for Bepo's cell, calling out for Law's pillow.
Penguin smiled coolly down at Monet before leaning down and twirling the blade in his hand, keeping eye contact with her. "I could draw this out. I really want to. I want to cut you up and tear you apart after everything you did to me, after what you tried to take away from me again. We both know I probably wouldn't come back a second time if I had given in. I like being here, being myself. I'm not some mindless puppet like you, you cold hearted bitch. You're lucky I have better things to do than waste my time with you. So I'm going to leave you here and you'll choke on your own blood. I won't show mercy on you. I'm not that nice."
"P-Pen...P-Pen..."
"Shhh, don't try to speak." Penguin hushed, smiling. "That might kill you faster. I would prefer you died slowly."
"Yeah that's not dark at all Penguin." Shachi commented from behind, a glance backwards showed Bepo at his side, looking drowsy and half-asleep.
Bepo must have been taking a nap again. Lucky.
"Just a little bit?" Penguin teased back, making Shachi snort.
Bepo spoke up though, sounding confused. "Wasn't that sarcasm?"
"Yes Bepo, it was." Shachi groaned, before Penguin felt him tug at his arm. "C'mon, Killer's waiting for you and I bet you wanna see your boyfriend and Rebecca."
"Rebecca?"
"Yeah, that kid you two seem to have adopted." The brunette sniggered.
"We didn't!" Penguin protested, flushing. "Killer and I haven't been together that long! I-"
"Oh calm down! I'm messing with you!" Shachi laughed, yanking him up to his feet. "Let's leave the crazy lady alright? I wanna watch the match and see that bastard beat Vergo."
"And achieve Law's freedom." Penguin murmured, nodding as they made their way out of the cells.
"Definitely that." Shachi grinned in agreement.
"Why does he keep taunting that funny beard guy?" Luffy asked, sounding confused as Kid continued to hurl out insults, driving Vergo crazier and crazier.
Ace frowned at the sight, Vergo was getting faster, more violent but he was also getting reckless. Kid was looking so amused, a dark grin on his face as he continued to only block Vergo's blows when he could.
He hadn't tried to cut Vergo yet. He had pushed him back a few times, nearly knocking him off the edge but not actually cut him with the sword.
"He's trying to anger him into making a careless mistake-yoi." Marco spoke up, suddenly behind them and startling them both into yelping.
"Ah! Where did you come from?!" Luffy cried out.
"I found him in a basket of pineapples in a shop one time-" Ace couldn't help but start off with, only to yelp when the back of his head was smacked.
"He's trying to make Vergo make a mistake. I had tried that too during my fight with him but unlike Eustass I don't know how to piss him off all that well. I have a feeling either they know each other somehow or Law managed to let him know how to do it."
Ace frowned. "Yeah but you didn't even bother to fight him properly. You weren't looking to win that round."
"Really?!" Luffy gaped.
The blonde shrugged. "Nah, not really-yoi. Besides, someone seemed to need it more."
Ace grinned at that. "Thanks Marco."
Marco was helping Law since Ace and Law had been friends for a long time, he struggled to get on with most noble kids, Law and Sabo were both exceptions. Most of the others were usually brats.
"Don't thank me yet. Eustass still has to win."
Luffy grinned. "He will."
"You think?" Marco murmured.
"Yep! Then he's gonna help make Law smile more often again." Luffy looked pleased before tensing when Vergo landed a good hit on Kid, driving him on to his back, Kid countered by kicking him in the stomach but Vergo kicked him back, further back into the centre and letting Vergo get away from the edge of the arena. "OI! BEAT HIM UP ALREADY EUSSY!"
"Eussy?! What the fuck Straw-Hat?!"
Ace chuckled. "You don't remember his name do you?"
Luffy's finger was up his nose, his expression now blank. "Nope."
Kid rolled away, jumping back up to his feet and smirking. "You didn't like me saying that huh? That I'm gonna steal Law and fuck him in front of the palace where that pink bastard could see."
"Law-kun's rebellious attitude will disappear with time. Your's however will need a strict hand in order to tame it." Vergo seethed. "And I thought I told you to address your betters properly mutt."
"Yeah, I am. Doflamingo's the 'pink bastard' and you're the 'old man' or 'old fuck', what do you think sounds better?" Kid grinned, ducking under a swing as he sliced at Vergo's side, surprised when he got him.
His surprise earned him a smack in the back by that damn cane Vergo has, driving his breath away as he hit the ground again, he tucked himself in when he heard Vergo move, his ankle just barely avoiding being stomped on. He twisted, kicking Vergo back and firing off a few rounds at him, two missing and the third getting his shoulder, forcing Vergo to switch his cane over to his left hand.
"Did you enjoy the sight of me killing that diamond bastard last match?! I thought it was brilliant!" Kid cried out gleefully, enjoying how Vergo went tense, killing intent pouring off him now. "I'd do it all over again if I could. It's funny how the pink bastard only has you and the squeaky asshole left. He made up those whole game and now he's getting ready to lose everything!"
He blocked another blow but he nearly lost his feet, the bastard was letting lose in his anger. His arm shook as he switched his gun for his dagger, slashing for Vergo's throat, only for Vergo to push himself away, his beard getting trimmed instead.
"Who knows? Maybe once people learn his 'dearest heart' was actually his slave once upon a time he might lose a lot of respect. It might turn out even worse when people learn that his fiancé's sister is still his slave too and she's a bargaining chip to keep him under heel." He offered quietly, smirking darkly at the look Vergo gave him in return, who now was smacking his cane off the ground.
He was even starting to leave a crater with the force he was using.
"You and I will be having a long discussion after this is all over brat." Vergo growled out coldly, completely stiff just as he lunged.
Fast, he was fast and angry.
But so was Kid.
Law watched, feeling completely tense all over as Kid swapped out his dagger for his gun, raising it, his grin widening further-
Holy shit was he actually have a plan? Did he think he was going to win? Vergo was pissed, beyond pissed, and now careless. Eustass-ya was getting an advantage but Vergo was now charging and-
"STOP THE MATCH!" Doflamingo suddenly howled, much to his shock.
He saw it now, Kid's gun was aimed right at Vergo's forehead who had been forced to slow to a stop when Doflamingo had shouted. Kid had only to press the trigger, then it would have all been over. He hadn't realised because Vergo had been moving so fast but Kid seemed to have figured out where to aim while watching out for Vergo's attack.
"Vergo loses." Doflamingo seethed into the microphone. "Eustass Kid wins."
Kid won? He actually won?
"Traffy!" Luffy was suddenly leaping over his railings, grinning wide and bright. "Your Champion won! He won the game! Your reward! The bet!"
Doflamingo's laughter cut them off. "I knew the Straw-Hat's and your assassin were working together. I just wasn't sure what on. Oh but now I do know Law, they seem to think they are helping you."
"We are!" Luffy snapped. "Now let Traffy and his sister go!"
"He hasn't said that's what he wants-"
Law could see Kid staring at him from within the arena, Vergo seething even with the gun that close too his forehead. Eustass-ya's eyes were full of faith, faith in him, what the hell? Why would he even-
Law breathed out softly before facing Doflamingo, his old and used to be one of his most cherished people in the world. "That's what I want. Lami gets to go anywhere she wants with a massive fortune while I get to leave and find my own way. You and I will annul the engagement."
He ignored the shocked gasps across the entire arena and the shouted questions screaming in his ears. He kept his eyes on Doflamingo who was seething in anger.
"Law, you aren't thinking straight. You know exactly what I've got in my hand beloved."
Penguin, Bepo.
"They're coming with me."
"You don't know where I've put them." Doflamingo murmured. "Be a good boy now. Remember what you said."
He shook his head. "My Champion won. I won our bet and I'm allowed a reward. Any request fulfilled remember? Lami and I go free and Lami gets a fortune to go with her after all the shit you and the family put her through."
Doflamingo remained quiet for a few moments before growling. "I want Eustass arrested and Law escorted back to his room-"
"What?!" Law snapped.
"You fucking bastard!" Kid snarled from down below.
"Doflamingo don't do this!" Law pleaded, horrified when he could see the guards at the gate to the bridge for the arena.
"Oi Mingo! You can't take it back!" Luffy snarled but suddenly a calm voice cut them off.
"Lord Doflamingo." King Roger was slipping into their stand, looking powerful and regal as he walked over to them, Ace standing in the doorway, looking pissed.
"King Roger." Doflamingo tensed, seething.
"You know the rules of the games. We all agreed to them. Whoever won gets what they want. You signed that contract remember? And you remember what happens to those who don't follow it?"
"Fufufufu, you would make me fight all those warriors Roger? How cruel."
"A contract?" Luffy blinked.
"There was a contract created at the very beginning of the games. All the ones who could run them had to sign it in agreement to the rules. The winner getting what they want as the prize agrees to is one of them." Ace offered quietly, arms crossed as he leaned against the door. "If you ignore the rules you have to fight all the participants that survived the game. Any who were left at any rate. The one they put into the game would be executed in addition."
"So if he refuses he would have to fight everyone and lose Vergo at the same time." Law noted quietly.
"Make your men stand down Doflamingo." Roger ordered. "Before you have to face the consequences. I will drag you to that ring myself if I have to."
He could feel Doflamingo's eyes on him for a moment before the blonde sighed. "Is this really what you want Law?"
He couldn't help but hesitates for a moment before sighing, remembering how there was no warmth between them anymore, not like there used to be.
"Yes. That's what I want. You and I are no longer engaged and Lami leaves with her fortune, to go wherever she pleases." Law stated clearly.
Doflamingo's shoulders slumped at that. "Alright then dear heart. Just for you then. Guards stand down, my Champion is not to be locked up. He is to serve me for six years-"
"What?" Law hissed but Doflamingo quietened him down with a motion of his hand, moving away from the microphone for a moment.
"He took you away from me and killed Diamante. You think I'll let him go so easily Law? Don't be silly, you're a clever thing."
Roger nodded in agreement. "He has the right young man."
"Shit." Law shuddered while Kid seethed down below, looking pissed as Doflamingo went back to addressing the audience.
"I will be delighted to greet Eustass Kid into my fold. He will become an excellent ally for these next six years we have together!" Doflamingo grinned brightly. "Now tonight we celebrate the end of the games with a feast and a party! The whole Kingdom will rejoice as our newest chosen Champion!"
Cheers and cries filled the stadium and he slumped back, suddenly feeling exhausted as Luffy embraced him with a big hug.
"You did it Traffy! You're free!" Luffy laughed into his back.
"I...I am... But Penguin, Shachi, Bepo..."
"Don't worry, the others got them out." Luffy reassured, squeezing him tightly and making him nearly grin in sheer relief too.
He looked over Kid who was grinning at him, looking amused as he lowered his gun, Vergo growling and storming away, looking beyond pissed off.
They had won. Holy shit Kid had won. They were both free. Kid of the mines and him of Doflamingo. He wanted to laugh and cry and go the fuck to sleep.
He couldn't help but grin back at Kid, the idiot hadn't given up, they had both been so lucky.
They had both won somehow.
Now it was time to put that into action.
.:End of Chapter:.
OMG one more chapter left guys! I'm so excited yet I can't believe it! We're nearly done, just the last of the editing stage, the last chapter might actually be up by Saturday or maybe sooner if I'm not too busy... Nope, I'm going crazy over here xD This is amazing, I can't believe we've come so far and I need to stop talking before I go into speech mode xD
On another note though writing the last fight between Kid and Vergo was so difficult. Seriously one on one was too hard and I during my editing it never felt right :/ I hope it's alright for you all but no matter how much I played with it for me it never felt right until I got to the point we're at now :) Let me know how you feel in the comments, any feedback for the fight scenes will be great for the next book :D
SEllen23, I love Lawlu interactions, they are just the cutest xD I'm not prepared for it either, I'm still going 'what the heck?!' and 'why?!' But yep there is a sequel, I've had to change some of the plot to it because it wasn't going the way I liked anymore once I looked back at it, so that's still in a bit of edit but I can easily write the first half of the next book with what I've got o.o I just can't believe A Champion's Game is nearly done though, it's been so many years xD And the 'happy ending' is gonna be a bit of a spoiler for the next book, they won't get away from Doflamingo that easily ;) Hope you're ready for the last chapter (I'm not D: What the heck? xD)
Dang, You binge read it? Omg you're awesome, I'm glad you've enjoyed it so much to do that :D And so far so good for Kid ;) Last chapter to go so you've joined us just in time :D